Disobedience and its Bad effects

Sh. Haatim - 14th Jamaadi Al Awwal 1416

Dear Brothers and Sister! Last week we talked about the righteous deeds and its praised
effects, today we will be talking about disobedience and it hideous/ugly effects. Allah
stated the effects of disobedience in S. Ar Room: (30:41)
"Evil sins and disobedience of Allah, has appeared on land and sea because of what the
hands of men have earned by oppression and evil deeds, that Allah may make them taste
a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return by repenting to Allah,
and begging His Pardon."
Some of the salaf said that whoever disobeys Allah on land, will corrupt or spoil it,
because the integrity/the uprightness of the earth and the heaven is retained by obedience.
A funeral procession passed by the Prophet, Sallallaahu 'Alayhi Wasallam who said,
"Relieved or relieving?" The people asked. "O Allah's Messenger, Sallallaahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam! What is relieved and relieving?" He replied, "A believer is relieved by death
from the troubles and hardships of the world and leaves for the mercy of Allah, while the
death of a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the trees and the animals from
him."
Some salaf also said, when the land becomes dry and infertile, the beasts would say that it
was due to the disobedient sons of Adam, may Allah curse them. The Prophet, Sallallaahu
'Alayhi Wasallam said, "Any community who does not pay Zakaat, rain will be forbidden
to them from the skies, and any community who are unjust in measure and balance, will
suffer a shortage of supplies and experience oppressive rulers."
Brothers and Sisters! What was the reason for Adam and Eve's dismissal from Paradise the Home of Grace and Pleasure? What was the reason for the expulsion of Shaitan from
the Kingdom of the Heavens? What was the reason for the drowning of People of Nooh
'Alayhi Salaam? What was the reason for the drowning of Pharoh and his soldiers in the
Red Sea? What was the reason that Allah destroyed the People of 'Aad by a terrible blast
of wind, which left them dead on the face of the earth as if they had been tumbled down
like roots of hollow palm trees, and destroyed everything including houses, farms and
cattle, setting an example for the nations that followed? What was the reason for sending
a terrible earthquake of thunder and lightning, which threw them prone on the ground and
buried them with their houses and fine buildings? What was the reason for sending a
violent tornado with showers of stones which destroyed the People of Loot? What was
the reason for sending an earthquake and a rain of burning fire on the People of Shu'aib?
What was the reason for causing the earth to swallow Qaroon with his house and family?
What was the reason for chastising the many generations after Nooh by completely
eradicating them? What was the reason for Allah sending different chastisements, which
would continue until the Final Hour, to the Children of Israel?

From all these questions Brothers and Sisters we can derive that disobedience is indeed
the main reason for punishment and disaster in this world and in the Hereafter.
Brothers and Sisters! Though the aforementioned criteria were the immediate
punishments due to disobedience, you must bear in mind that the punishment in the
Hereafter is more severe, everlasting and intense. We, as successors to our predecessors,
should take whatever they experienced as a model or an example by which to rectify
ourselves. Allah says in S. Al Mursalaat: (77:16-19)
"Did We not destroy the ancients? So shall We make later generations to follow them.
Thus do We deal with the Mujrimoon - the polytheists, the disbelievers, the sinners and
the criminals. Woe that Day - of Resurrection, to the deniers."
Brothers and Sister! Though we are aware of the past experiences of our predecessors,
with some people who are still residing in the same areas and situations to this day, we
must be afraid and careful not to incur the same sufferings as our predecessors. Allah says
in S. Ibraaheem: (14:45)
"And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to
you how We had dealt with them. And We put forth many parables for you."
1.The Effects of Disobedience on the earth are in the form of storms, earthquakes, floods
and gale force winds, which usually renders people to desert their houses and cause
endless havoc and chaos.
2.The Effects of Disobedience on fruits are in the form of epidemics, which damages the
crops, resulting in poor harvests.
3.The Effects of Disobedience on water are in the form of lack of rain resulting in
drought and famine.
4.The Effects of Disobedience on the human body are in the form of life-threatening
diseases and incurable unnatural and unhealthy conditions.
5.The Effects of Disobedience on communities are in the form disorder, tyrants, rape,
crime theft, segregated political parties etc. Allah says in S. Al An'aam: (6:65)
"Say: 'He has power to send torment on you from above, or from under your feet, or to
cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one
another.' See how variously We explain the Ayaat, so that they may understand."
One of the biggest sufferings due to disobedience is that it hardens, darkens and sickens
the heart. This is reflected in S. Al Mutaffifeen where Allah says: (83:14)
"Nay! But in their hearts is the 'Raan'- the covering of sins and evil deeds, which they
used to earn."

Narrated Abu Hurraira, Radiya Allahu 'Anhu: Allah's Messenger, Sallallaahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam said, "When a person commits a sin, a black dot is dotted on his heart. Then if
that person leaves that sin, begs Allah to forgive him, and repents, then his heart is
cleared, but if he repeats the sin, then that covering is increased till his heart is completely
covered with it." Al Hasan Al Basri commented that if a person commits a sin, which
augments another, then the heart eventually becomes blind and dead.
My dear Brothers and Sisters! We are living in a time where disobedience of different
varieties are on the increase in a very, very worrying manner.
This is mainly due to where evil prevails the good, where communication is enhanced by
the means of mass media, where the world has become one community whereby a person
can see, hear or read about what is happening elsewhere simultaneously.
A lot of people have become very lenient with their Salaah and Zakaat, even though they
are the greatest pillars of Islam, after the Shahaada. Usury has spread, the display of
women's charms and corruption is widespread.
Brothers and Sisters! Look after your children, for they are a trust laid upon you from
Allah. Some of you might say, "I can not control my son, because he does not obey me."
To those we say, "You have ignored him when he was young, so he disobeyed you when
he grew old."
Second Khutbah
Brothers and Sisters! While disobedience has punishments, however, there is also a cure
and prevention for it. The Prophet, Sallallaahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said, "Allah did not send
down a disease, without sending a cure for it."
Ways of Treating Disobedience :
1. Asking Sincere Repentance and Forgiveness from Allah. Allah says in S. Al Anfaal:
(8:33)
".....Nor will He punish them while they seek Allah's forgiveness."
In S. TaaHaa Allah also says: (20:82)
"And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and
associates none in worship with me), and does righteous good deeds, and then remains
constant in doing them. (till his death.)"
2. Other forms of treating the disobedient is by offering good advice, reminding and
exhorting them.

3. Another treatment for disobedience is enjoining what is right and forbidding what is
wrong. The Prophet, Sallallaahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said, "If one of you sees a wrong
doing, let him change it with his hand and if he could not do it, then by his mouth, and if
he could not do it, then he must feel remorse in his heart, and that is the weakest of faith."
The Muslim must deny any wrong doing if he could, and apply in his household. Allah
says in S. At Tahreem: (66:6)
"O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire, whose fuel is
Men and Stones....." So rescuing your family and yourself from the Hell-fire is a must,
and that is by being committed to obedience and forsaking disobedience. If enjoining
what is right and forbidding what is wrong is taken with leniency and the disobedient are
left without denial, the punishment will prevail over all. This is reflected in S. Al
Maa'idah: (5:78)
"Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David
and Jesus - the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed Allah and the Messengers
and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.